We Break It Down with DeVeaus Level 10 Sarah Haxton. Sarah breaks down her best event bars and gives some insights to what she thinks about and focuses on during her bar routine. She loves to fly and bars gives her that feeling and why it has become one of her favorite events. Let’s Break It Down Bars with Sarah!
Continuing with our coverage of our Level 9 Eastern National Champions our next 20 Questions Athlete is Jenna Hartley of Dreams Gymnastics (Illinois). Jenna is the 2019 Senior 8 All-Around Champion, she also picked up a National Title on the Balance Beam and two more top 3 finished in the Floor and Vault. Jenna’s Seniors 8 team also finished out the National Championships with a first place team finish and were on hand to accept the 2019 Level 9 Super Team Title! Jenna who not only excels in club gymnastics at Dreams in Illinois she is also part of her High Schools Gymnastics Team. Let’s get to know Jenna a little better as she finishes heads into her last season with Dreams as a Level 10.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I got into gymnastics when I
was 18 months old in a parent and tot class at Dreams.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is the Vault
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train/compete is double backs on floor.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a Counter Kim on bars
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is the friendships I’ve made throughout all the years. And all the life lessons it has taught me (in #8)
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at is Illinois High School State because it is a super fun atmosphere and it’s all about the team.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is Winning all around at Eastern Nationals
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? The important life lessons it teaches you- hard work, determinition, conquering fears, time management, being a team player
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I am Not sure what my favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series is, they are all great
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? Depends on what mood I’m in. Sometimes I’ll listen to rap and pump up songs to get me fired up but sometimes I listen to chill songs to keep me relaxed.
3 Things you could not live without? 3 things I could not live without would be my 
phone, friends, family
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would be a dog- they are so loving and always there for you
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? The most important or must have item in my gym bag is Aquaphor
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Yes! I always have to put my right grip on first and then my left
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics?Outside of Gymnastics I like to hang out with family and friends, go to school events
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? The most embarrassing meet or gymnastics moment is that I’ve peed my pants during floor routines
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I was not a gymnast I would try Soccer. I used to play it for awhile
How does it feel to be a Level 9 Eastern National Champion? To be the 2019 
Level 9 Eastern National Champion it feels really great knowing that my hard work and determination paid off
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable gymnastics or nationals moment would be winning Nationals
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? The most valuable piece of wisdom or advice my coach has given me is that Weird is good.
In this episode of Coaches Wired, Michael Hauser (Mikey) from BIG Gymnastics prepares their level 10 Kaitlyn Grimes during vault warm-ups and then competition during the Senior A session at the 2019 JO Nationals. Listen in as Mikey gives Grimes small reminders on technique to help her perform her vault to the best of her ability. He also gives us an update on which side is his best for filming!!!
The 2019 World Selection Camp is going on at Evo Athletics in Sarasota, Florida. The six member world championship team for the USA will be determined after a two day competition which features an all around session (live stream below) and a two event session on Monday (no video available) with the team being announced immediately following.
Region 5 had two athletes selected to participate at the selection camp. Faith Torrez from Legacy Elite will be part of her first selection camp and will be a great opportunity to gain more experience moving into the 2020 elite season. Shilese Jones from Future Gymnastics was scheduled to compete but has scratched due to an injury.
Click here for the USA Gymnastics Selection Camp Playlist
This is the final Making Moves Monday for this year. The competition season is right around the corner and we are excited to see all these upgrades from this past summer and fall being competed in routines during this upcoming competition season. It’s a full collection of new skills for the final making moves of the year.
Alyssa Sarro, BIG
Gianna Raap, Legacy Elite
Hannah Oliveros, Phenom
Angel Naranjo- Lopez, Gym Nation
Hannah Scheible, All American Flames
Lexi Xiromeritis, Twistars
Maddy Pike, Perfection
Zoe Krull, FlipZone
Alexa Brez, Perfection
Kaitlyn Ewald, In the Zone
Sarah Moraw, Champion USA
Sydney Hayashi, Buckeye
Isabella Trostel, Buckeye
Katya Sander, Perfection
Olivia Bowsman, BIG
